Grab your cowboy boots and mosey on over to the eighth annual Old West Festival. The western-themed festival rolls back in town for another season of boot stompin’ family fun on weekends – Saturday, September 12 through October 18, 2015. Located at its permanent site, just 15 minutes from I-275, east of Cincinnati, the Old West Festival transports visitors back in time to a historic American era, the Wild West.
Drawing more than twenty thousand visitors each fall, the permanent old west town is home to everything you would expect to see in Dodge City circa 1878. Attendees will enjoy historically accurate medicine and saloon shows, can-can dancers, gunfights, jailbreaks, and more. Period re-enactors will also be found walking the streets and performing the roles of cowboys, cowgirls, storeowners, residents, and of course, outlaws.
The Old West Festival will also be abuzz with western music. Attendees can enjoy the sounds of the 1800’s with music from Gunpowder Creek as well as Raison d’Etre, a trio mixing traditional folk songs with a capella swing tunes and Shaker hymns.
Other performers will be ‘round town as well. Magician Jason Jacobs will amaze, bewilder and astonish with his magical flare and the Pickled Brothers will shock with their mind-boggling performances. Trick rider Abigail Petersen will impress audiences with her horsemanship and daring stunts, while visitors to the Long Branch Saloon will enjoy shows by world champion roper Rider Keisner, and folks will no doubt get a “kick” out of Miss Melody Star and her Hurdy Gurdy Dancing Girls.
And what would the old west be without a good ole’ fashioned gunfight? Back by popular demand, four times daily starting at high noon, the Big Irons Rangers return with their gunfight re-enactments and trick shooting. In between shows they, and other period interpreters, will be walking the grounds to meet visitors and pose for photos.
At 10:15 a.m. daily, the kiddies can get sworn in as town deputies. They can also enjoy old-timey puppet and magic shows, storytelling and sing-a-longs. The youngsters can also participate in historic games, pan for gold, take a ride on the A&A Express train, take a pony ride, and even cross the frontier in a covered wagon.
Themed weekends add to the experience of the Old West Festival and include Western Film Weekend Sept. 12-13; Romance Weekend Sept. 19-20; America’s Pastime Weekend Sept. 26-27; Steampunk Weekend Oct. 3-4; OctoBEERfest Weekend Oct. 10-11; and Halloween Weekend Oct. 17-18.
To celebrate the opening of another season, the Old West Festival presents Western Film Weekend. Iconic scenes of cowboys riding into the sunset, saloon brawls and gunfights have shaped our idea of the Wild West. Guests will enjoy screenings from classic movies, experience a lively panel discussion and meet the cast and crew from Revelation Trail, a western film shot on the grounds of the Old West Festival.
Tickets to the Old West Festival can be purchased for $12, $6 for children ages 6-12, children 5 and under admitted for free. Parking is free and the festival will be held, rain or shine. Tickets are available at a discounted rate in advance at www.oldwestfestival.com.
The Old West Festival runs Saturdays and Sundays, September 12 to October 18 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and is located at 1449 Greenbush Cobb Rd between Mt. Orab and Williamsburg, Ohio just off St. Rt. 32. For more information, visit www.oldwestfestival.com.
Also, if you have never been in the past, this is the year to go! For the first time, any tickets purchased online in advance are discounted!! You know how I love a DEALIO! We had such a BLAST last year and are so excited to go again this year! There is nothing like being transported back in time with Cowboys and Cowgirls, Fire Eating men and my boys favorites, being in a Live Gun Show and watching all the gun tricks! They have events and shows all day so you can see something new every hour. We watched this talented woman, Abigail, who was a trick rider on a horse. Then they let the kids participate in their own horse riding contest (with fake horses of course!) so there is so much for the kids to do! It truly is a unique experience. We went on the Halloween Themed Weekend so the kiddos were able to Trick-or Treat, but I hope to try out another theme this year….maybe the OctoBEERfest?! Sounds FUN!
If you have never been, it is time to go and what better way then with FREE tickets?! Enter for your chance to win a family 4 pack of tickets to the Old West Festival!
I received tickets for my family to go to the Old West Festival and the Old West Festival sponsored this giveaway, however, all opinions and thoughts are my own. Thanks for reading!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
We have never been to this and it sounds fun. I think we would enjoy seeing the magician and horse riders the most.
You would love it!Sent from my iPhone
This was SO much fun! I LOVE THIS FESTIVAL!!
Connor had so much fun last year!! He is wanting to go again so bad!